Interlacing responses within an instant messaging system

ABSTRACT

A computer-implemented method of interlacing responses within an instant messaging (IM) system can include, responsive to a request from a user in an IM session, storing an IM message fragment input by the user and associating the IM message fragment with a message selected from an IM session transcript. The method can include recalling the IM message fragment and outputting, at least in part, the IM message fragment in response to the message.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the present invention relate to instant messaging(IM) and, more particularly, to interlacing responses within an IMsystem.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Instant messaging (IM) provides real time communication and informationexchange between two or more IM clients over a communication network.The ability of IM to deliver real time communications via personalcomputers and workstations commonly used for work and entertainment hasled to the popularity of IM as a collaborative application within manyorganizations and online communities.

An IM system typically includes a plurality of IM client applications(IM clients) and an IM server. Each IM client executes within a dataprocessing system and allows a user to log into the IM system byestablishing a presence for a user on the IM server. The IM serverdistributes IM messages between the various IM clients.

The IM client itself typically provides a graphical user interface (GUI)that includes an input window and a transcript window. User input suchas text, files, graphics, audio, and the like can be entered into theinput window. Messages that have been exchanged with one or more otherIM clients during the course of an IM session are displayedchronologically within the transcript window. As the transcript of theIM session grows, the transcript window usually becomes scrollable,allowing users to navigate the history of the IM session.

Due to the popularity of IM, users may find themselves inundated withmessages. Whether received from a plurality of different participants ora single participant in the IM session, a recipient may be in thesituation where messages arrive so quickly that little or no time existsfor sending a response to one message before the arrival of a nextmessage. In these situations, the recipient often begins a response toone message, e.g., a first message, only to receive a subsequent, orsecond, message. If the second message is of greater importance, theuser may decide to discontinue a response to the first message in favorof responding to the second message. The user typically deletes anyentered, but unsent, text in response to the first message from theinput window and creates a response to the second message. Theunfinished response to the first message is lost.

When the user has time to respond to the first message, the user mustbegin the response anew. After being sent, the response will show up inthe transcript window with other sent message in chronological orderaccording to the time the message was sent. As such, the response willappear to be unrelated to the message the response was directed. Thisproblem is exacerbated as the number of messages to which the recipienthas not responded begins to increase during the IM session.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments relate to interlacing responses within an instantmessaging (IM) system. Once embodiment of the present invention caninclude a computer-implemented method of interlacing responses within anIM system. The computer-implemented method can include, responsive to arequest from a user in an IM session, storing an IM message fragmentinput by the user and associating the IM message fragment with a messageselected from an IM session transcript. The computer-implemented methodalso can include recalling the IM message fragment and outputting, atleast in part, the IM message fragment in response to the message.

Another embodiment of the present invention can include acomputer-implemented method of conducting an IM session using an IMclient. The computer-implemented method can include, responsive to auser input during the IM session, automatically selecting all datawithin an input field of the IM client, wherein the selected data is anIM message fragment, storing the IM message fragment in a selectablelist of IM message fragments, and clearing the input field. Responsiveto a subsequent user input, recalling the IM message fragment from theselectable list of IM message fragments and presenting the IM messagefragment within the input field. The IM message fragment can be output.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention can include a computerprogram product including a computer-usable medium havingcomputer-usable program code that, when executed, causes a machine toperform the various steps and/or functions described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a first pictorial view illustrating a graphical user interface(GUI) of an instant messaging (IM) client in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a second pictorial view illustrating the GUI of the IM clientin accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a third pictorial view illustrating the GUI of the IM clientin accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a fourth pictorial view illustrating the GUI of the IM clientin accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a fifth pictorial view illustrating the GUI of the IM clientin accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sixth pictorial view illustrating the GUI of the IM clientin accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a method of interlacing responseswithin an IM system in accordance with another embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the present inventionmay be embodied as a method, system, or computer program product.Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of an entirelyhardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, includingfirmware, resident software, micro-code, etc., or an embodimentcombining software and hardware aspects that may all generally bereferred to herein as a “circuit,” “module,” or “system.”

Furthermore, the invention may take the form of a computer programproduct accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable mediumproviding program code for use by, or in connection with, a computer orany instruction execution system. For the purposes of this description,a computer-usable or computer-readable medium can be any apparatus thatcan contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program foruse by, or in connection with, the instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

Any suitable computer-usable or computer-readable medium may beutilized. For example, the medium can include, but is not limited to, anelectronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, orsemiconductor system (or apparatus or device), or a propagation medium.A non-exhaustive list of exemplary computer-readable media can includean electrical connection having one or more wires, an optical fiber,magnetic storage devices such as magnetic tape, a removable computerdiskette, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a rigid magneticdisk, a magneto-optical disk, an optical storage medium, such as anoptical disk including a compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), acompact disk-read/write (CD-R/W), or a DVD, or a semiconductor or solidstate memory including, but not limited to, a random access memory(RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), or an erasable programmable read-onlymemory (EPROM or Flash memory).

A computer-usable or computer-readable medium further can include atransmission media such as those supporting the Internet or an intranet.Further, the computer-usable medium may include a propagated data signalwith the computer-usable program code embodied therewith, either inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. The computer-usable program codemay be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including, but notlimited to, the Internet, wireline, optical fiber, cable, RF, etc.

In another aspect, the computer-usable or computer-readable medium canbe paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed,as the program can be electronically captured, via, for instance,optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled,interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary,and then stored in a computer memory.

Computer program code for carrying out operations of the presentinvention may be written in an object oriented programming language suchas Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like. However, the computer program codefor carrying out operations of the present invention may also be writtenin conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The program codemay execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user'scomputer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user'scomputer and partly on a remote computer, or entirely on the remotecomputer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may beconnected to the user's computer through a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing programcode will include at least one processor coupled directly or indirectlyto memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements can includelocal memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulkstorage, and cache memories which provide temporary storage of at leastsome program code in order to reduce the number of times code must beretrieved from bulk storage during execution.

Input/output or I/O devices (including but not limited to keyboards,displays, pointing devices, etc.) can be coupled to the system eitherdirectly or through intervening I/O controllers. Network adapters mayalso be coupled to the system to enable the data processing system tobecome coupled to other data processing systems or remote printers orstorage devices through intervening private or public networks. Modems,cable modems, and Ethernet cards are just a few of the currentlyavailable types of network adapters.

The present invention is described below with reference to flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), andcomputer program products according to embodiments of the invention. Itwill be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/orblock diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computerprogram instructions. These computer program instructions may beprovided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purposecomputer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce amachine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor ofthe computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, createmeans for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchartand/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable memory that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablememory produce an article of manufacture including instruction meanswhich implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

In accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein, a user in aninstant messaging (IM) session can begin an IM message (message) byinputting data into an input field of graphical user interface (GUI) ofan IM client. The data that is input into the input field can be an IMmessage fragment (fragment). As used herein, an “IM message fragment,” a“message fragment,” or “fragment,” can refer to any data entered intothe input field of the IM client GUI that is not, or has not, been sentto another IM client as a message. Accordingly, a fragment can refer toany combination of letters, numbers, symbols, code, files, graphics,audio, video, etc. that is entered, listed, or otherwise specifiedwithin the input field, but not sent as a message. The term “message,”as used herein, can refer to a portion of data that has been sent fromone IM client to another IM client, e.g., a complete IM message.

Prior to sending the fragment in response to a first message, arecipient may receive a further, or second, message. Upon receiving thesecond message, the recipient may decide to answer the second messagebefore completing the response to the first message. Accordingly,responsive to a user input, the fragment can be stored and associatedwith a message in the transcript window of the IM client GUI. Themessage that is associated with the fragment can be the message, or anestimate of the message, to which the fragment in response.

After transmitting a response to the second message, the fragment can berecalled from memory and entered into the input field. The user may thencomplete the fragment and send the fragment, whether modified or not, asa message. The message can be transmitted and displayed in thetranscript window with an identifier indicating the message in thetranscript window with which the completed fragment, and now sentmessage, is associated. The identifier can provide a clearerunderstanding as to which message the now completed fragment is related.

FIG. 1 is a first pictorial view illustrating a GUI 100 of an IM clientin accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As shown,GUI 100 illustrates an ongoing IM session between users “John” and“Jane.” A transcript window 105 can display a history or partial historyof messages exchanged between the two users during the IM session.

Message 110 from John queries Jane by asking, “What time are youleaving?” Within an input field 120, Jane can begin a response tomessage 110. As shown, Jane begins typing a fragment 125 which says,“I'm leaving after the . . . ” Prior to completing the fragment 125,Jane can receive a further message 115 querying “When is the reportdue?” Message 115 asks Jane about a different topic that will not beanswered by a response to message 110. Jane may determine that message115 is of greater importance than message 110 and decide to answermessage 115 prior to message 110. Accordingly, Jane can issue a userinput or command that causes fragment 125 to be automatically removedfrom input field 120 and stored in a list of fragments 130 forsubsequent recall. Jane can now respond to message 115 and, when ready,recall fragment 125, complete fragment 125, and send fragment 125 as amessage.

Within a conventional IM system, fragment 125 would be deleted and lost,requiring manual re-entry by Jane at a later time. If select and cutoperations are performed to clear fragment 125 from input field 120,only a single fragment typically is stored at one time. For example, ifJane receives a further query and decides to respond to that latestquery, a further select and cut operation will result in any priorstored fragment being overwritten. Further, conventional select and cutoperations will not track association of a fragment to a particularmessage in the transcript window.

When Jane does respond to message 115, the response will be displayed inchronological order in a conventional IM client such that the responseis displayed below the most recent sent message. The response will notappear to have any relation to message 115. The lack of associationbetween message 115 and the response to message 115, regardless of whensent, can create confusion as to which message the response corresponds.

FIG. 2 is a second pictorial view illustrating GUI 100 of the IM clientin accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2illustrates a continuation of the IM session described with reference toFIG. 1. Within GUI 100, the user can select fragment 125 using a pointer130. Fragment 125 can be associated with a particular message in thetranscript window 105 by dragging fragment 125 and dropping fragment 125over the message with which fragment 125 is to be associated. In thiscase, fragment 125 can be dropped over, and associated with, message110.

For example, responsive to a user placing pointer 130 within input field120, fragment 125 can be automatically selected to facilitate the dragoperation. The user can begin dragging fragment 125 from input field 120to the target destination. Upon initiating the drag operation, fragment125 can be removed or cleared from input field 120. As fragment 125 ismoved over different messages, each message can be highlighted.Highlighting a message can indicate that the message is a drop targetwere fragment 125 to be released. It should be appreciated that when thetranscript of the IM session is too large to fit in the transcriptwindow, moving pointer 130 near the top or bottom of transcript window105 while dragging fragment 125 will cause transcript window 105 toscroll up or down as the case may be. This allows any message from thetranscript of the current IM session to be selected, whether currentlyviewable in transcript window 105 or not.

Fragment 125 can be dropped on highlighted message 110. Responsive tothe drop operation, fragment 125 can be stored in a fragment list.Additionally, an association between message 110 and fragment 125 can becreated. Fragment 125, or the entry within the fragment list thatcorresponds to fragment 125, can be time stamped with time and/or dateinformation indicating the time and/or date that fragment 125 was addedto the fragment list, e.g., stored. It should be appreciated that anymessages, e.g., messages 110 and 115, within the transcript window 105will have time stamps as well.

In another embodiment, a user input such as a command, whether acombination of keystrokes or a single keystroke, can be received.Responsive to such a user input or command, fragment 125 can beautomatically removed from input field 120 and stored in the fragmentlist. The fragment list can be presented to the user as a drop downmenu, as a list with check boxes, or the like. Upon storing fragment125, the transcript window 105 can automatically refocus to, orhighlight, a message having a timestamp that is closest in time to thetime stamp of fragment 125. In one embodiment, the message having a timestamp that is closest in time and before the time stamp of fragment 125can be selected. The selected message can be a default suggested messageto which fragment 125 can be associated. The user may, however, selectother messages, for example, using the arrow keys to navigate messagesin the transcript window 105 up and down to select the desired messagewith which to associate fragment 125.

For example, with input field 120 active, the user can simultaneouslystrike the keys “control” and “up arrow.” This user input can cause theIM client to automatically remove fragment 125 from input field 120,store fragment 125, and time stamp fragment 125. Message 115, as aresult of having the closest time stamp to the storage time of fragment125, can be highlighted. Using the up arrow key, the user can navigateup to message 110, the message to which fragment 125 should beassociated, and press the enter key to associate message 110 withfragment 125. In this way, fragment 125 can be stored for re-use, alongwith information identifying message 110 as the message to whichfragment 125 was responding.

FIG. 3 is a third pictorial view illustrating the GUI 100 of the IMclient in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 3 can represent a continuation of the IM session described herein.Once fragment 125 has been stored and associated with message 110,transcript window 105 can graphically display an indicator 135representing the association between message 110 and fragment 125.Having stored fragment 125, the user now can enter a message 140 in theinput field 120 in response to message 115. Fragment 125 has beenstored, associated with a particular message, and can be recalled at alater time.

In one embodiment, indicator 135 can be viewable only within the IMclient of the user that wrote fragment 125, in this case GUI 100 foruser Jane. Any other participants in the IM session will not be aware offragment 125 until such time that fragment 125 is completed and sent asa message. Indicator 135 gives the user a visual indication of themessage with which fragment 125 has been associated. In addition,indicator 135 can serve as a reminder that message 110 still requires aresponse.

It should be appreciated that while indicator 135 is shown as an arrow,any of a variety of different visual indicators can be used to show anassociation between a fragment and a message. For example, both message110 and fragment 125 can be simultaneously highlighted. In anotherexample, fragment 125 can be displayed adjacent to, or next to, message110. In still another example, special coloring or highlighting can beused to indicate that message 110 requires a response and has beenassociated with a fragment.

FIG. 4 is a fourth pictorial view illustrating GUI 100 of the IM clientin accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4illustrates a continuation of the IM session described herein. In GUI100, message 140 has been transmitted in response to message 115 and,thus, is displayed in transcript window 105. Having completed message140, the user can decide to revisit responding to message 110. Fragment125 can be recalled from a selectable list of stored fragments andplaced into input field 120.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, fragment 125 has been selectedusing pointer 130 from a drop down type list 145. As shown, the dropdown list 145 can drop down from the input field 120. Drop down list 145can include one or more fragments that have been stored as describedherein, allowing the subsequent recall of one or more of those fragmentsindividually. It should be appreciated that when a fragment is recalledinto input field 120, that fragment can be removed from the fragmentlist. Each fragment in drop down list 145 can be associated with amessage in the transcript window 105. Although embodied as a drop downlist, any other graphical means of presenting the list of fragments canbe used.

Pointing device 130 can select fragment 125 from drop down list 145.Responsive to selection of fragment 125, fragment 125 can beautomatically populated into input field 120. It should be appreciatedthat keyboard input can be used to traverse drop down list 145 as well.For example, the arrow keys and the enter key can be used navigate to adesired fragment and select that fragment. In this manner, fragment 125can be recalled by the user, completed, and sent in response to message110.

FIG. 5 is a fifth pictorial view illustrating GUI 100 of the IM clientin accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5also represents the continuation of the IM session described herein. InGUI 100, fragment 125 can be recalled and populated into input field120. Once recalled, the user can edit fragment 125 or add text toformulate a complete response. In this example, fragment 125, which is“I'm leaving right after the” can be recalled. Text can be added ininput field 120 such that fragment 125 reads “I'm leaving right afterthe meeting.” Once a complete response is created, or the user hasfinished editing fragment 125, the user can select the “send” button.Selection or activation of the “send” button causes fragment 125 to besent to a recipient as a completed response, referred to as message 150.

FIG. 6 is a sixth pictorial view illustrating GUI 100 of the IM clientin accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6illustrates the continued IM session discussed herein. After sendingmessage 150, message 150 can be displayed within transcript window 105.In addition, an indicator 155 can be displayed which clearly indicatesthe association between message 150 and message 110. Indicator 155, inthis case a directional indicator, indicates that message 150 is aresponse to message 110. In this way, the conversation flow oftranscript window 105 is clarified, as each time a message is createdfrom a text fragment as described herein, the resulting message can begraphically associated with the message to which the completed message(built from fragment 125), was responding.

Indicator 155, or some programmatic construct representative of theassociation, can be output and sent along with the message 150. Areceiving IM client, if so configured, can interpret the associativedata and present indicator 155 as is shown in the sending IM client inFIG. 5. It should be appreciated that in cases where such functionalityis not supported, the extraneous information specifying indicator 155and association information between messages 150 and 110 can be ignoredby the IM client that receives such information.

In one embodiment, the association of a fragment to a message may occurwhen the fragment is stored. In another embodiment, however, theassociation can be created after the fragment is recalled. For example,a text fragment can be recalled, used as the basis for a completedresponse, and the completed response sent using a drag and dropoperation. The drag and drop operation can involve selecting thecompleted response with a pointing device, dragging the completedresponse over a message in transcript window 105, and releasing thecompleted response over a selected message in transcript window 105,thereby creating an association between the dragged message and thetarget message over which the dragged message was dropped. Afterdropping the completed message, the message can be transmitted. Theassociation can be represented as discussed or shown using anothersuitable means of visually illustrating an association between twomessages, e.g., indentation of related messages, use of a symbolpreceding each related message, the same coloring, etc.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a method 700 of managing fragmentsand/or interlacing responses in accordance with another embodiment ofthe present invention. Method 700 can facilitate the storage offragments and provide a conversational context between messages. Thisconversational context can illustrate query-response relationships amongmessages in the transcript window of the IM client. As noted, thequery-response relationships may not correspond or be apparent from aconventional view of an IM transcript where messages are orderedchronologically according to time sent and/or received.

Method 700 can begin in a state where a user has entered a fragment intoan input field of a GUI of an IM client configured as discussed hereinwith reference to FIGS. 1-6. Prior to sending the fragment as a message,the user may receive a further message, e.g., a query or question,within the IM client. The user can decide to discontinue writing thefragment, e.g., the first response, and instead begin writing a responseto the subsequently received message.

In step 705 the user can provide an input that requests storage of thefragment currently within the input field. In step 710, the fragment canbe automatically selected, automatically stored within the fragmentlist, and automatically cleared from the input field.

Optionally, a particular message can be selected from the transcriptwindow, whether viewable or not, as an estimate of the message to whichthe fragment will be associated. As noted, the selection of a particularmessage can be performed through time stamp information by selecting amessage having a time stamp that is closest in time to the moment whenthe command to store the fragment was received. The transcript windowcan be refocused so that the selected message and surrounding portionsof the transcript of the IM session are viewable within the transcriptwindow.

In step 715, the user can select a message in the transcript of thecurrent IM session. As noted, the user can navigate to the desiredmessage within, or through, the transcript window. The selected messagewill be associated with the fragment. It should be appreciated that ifthe message selected in step 710 is the correct message, the user neednot navigate to another message, but rather select the estimated messagewhich, for example, can be highlighted. In step 720, the fragment can beassociated with the selected message.

In step 725, the association between the fragment and the selectedmessage can be visually illustrated in the transcript window of the userthat created the fragment. In one embodiment, the content of theselected message can be displayed next to the fragment in a drop downlist. For example, the each line of the drop down list can include afragment and the message associated with that fragment in the followingformat: <fragment>|<message> or <message>|<fragment>. It should beappreciated that in cases where the fragment and/or message is long, aportion of the fragment and/or the message can be used in lieu of theentire message and/or fragment.

Subsequently, for example, after responding to one or more othermessages, the user can return to responding to the selected message. Instep 730, responsive to a user input, the fragment can be automaticallyrecalled from storage and automatically populated into the input field.As noted, the fragment can be recalled from a drop down list or selectedfrom another type of list or GUI. Once recalled, the user may or may notedit the fragment in order to structure a complete response to theselected message that is associated with the fragment.

In step 735, the fragment and an identifier specifying the associationbetween the fragment and the selected message can be output, e.g., sentto another IM client or the IM server. As used herein, “output” or“outputting” can include, but is not limited to, writing to a file,writing to a user display or other output device, playing audiblenotifications, sending or transmitting to another system, exporting, orthe like. Once sent, the now complete fragment (response) can be shownin the transcript window of the sender and the recipient. An identifiercan be displayed which links the response to the associated message.

In another embodiment, the response can be displayed or inserted intothe transcript window at a line that is immediately below the messagewith which the response is associated. As noted, the response andassociated message also can be indicated by coloring the response andassociated message in a same color that is different from othermessages, placing an index or icon to the left or right edge of theresponse and associated message, or the like. Further, any combinationof mechanisms for visualizing the association between the response andthe associated message can be used.

In still another embodiment, the indicator can be text that informs therecipient of the particular message with which the response isassociated. For example, the completed fragment “I'm leaving at 5:00”from Jane can be associated with the message “What time are youleaving?” from John. When the completed fragment, e.g., the response, issent, the indicator can be text that is pre-pended to the response.Within the transcript window of John's IM client, the following messagecan be displayed: “In response to ‘What time are you leaving,’ Janesays: I'm leaving at 5:00.” This embodiment allows an IM client thatdoes not support graphical means of illustrating message associations tovisually indicate an association between a response and a message usingtext.

The various exemplary GUIs used herein have been provided for purposesof illustration only. Those skilled in the art will recognize that otherGUIs, controls, selection mechanisms, navigation mechanisms, and thelike can be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The flowchart(s) and block diagram(s) in the figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart(s) or block diagram(s) may represent a module, segment, orportion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblocks may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagram(s) and/or flowchartillustration(s), and combinations of blocks in the block diagram(s)and/or flowchart illustration(s), can be implemented by special purposehardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, orcombinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

Having thus described the invention of the present application in detailand by reference to the embodiments thereof, it will be apparent thatmodifications and variations are possible without departing from thescope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method within an instantmessaging (IM) system, comprising: storing, responsive to a request froma user within an IM session, an IM message fragment; receiving, from theuser, a selection of one of a plurality of messages within an IM sessiontranscript; generating an association between the stored IM messagefragment and the selected one of the plurality of messages; recalling,responsive to a user input, the stored IM message fragment; andpresenting the recalled IM message fragment within an input field of theIM session, wherein the IM message fragment has not been transmittedfrom the user to an intended recipient of the IM message fragment, andthe IM session transcript includes messages from both the user and theintended recipient.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the IM messagefragment is stored within a list of IM message fragments.
 3. The methodof claim 2, wherein the list of IM message fragments is presented to theuser responsive to the user input.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein therecalled IM message fragment is selected, by the user, from the list ofIM message fragments.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprisingoutputting the IM message fragment, as a completed message, and theassociation.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein an identifier specifiesthe association, and the IM message fragment and the identifier are sentto an IM server connecting the user to the intended recipient or an IMclient of the intended recipient.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein thecompleted message is displayed within an IM transcript window, of an IMclient of the user, that displays the IM transcript.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the IM message fragment is all data within the inputfield upon receiving the request.
 9. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising visually displaying the association between the IM messagefragment and the selected one of the plurality of messages.
 10. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising visually distinguishing, upon theIM message fragment being dragged over the selected one of the pluralityof messages, the selected one of the plurality of messages from othermessages in an IM transcript window, of an IM client of the user, thatdisplays the IM transcript.
 11. A computer program product, comprising:a computer-usable storage device having stored therein computer-usableprogram code the computer-usable program code, which when executed on acomputer hardware system including an instant messaging (IM) system,causes the computer hardware system to perform: storing, responsive to arequest from a user within an IM session, an IM message fragment;receiving, from the user, a selection of one of a plurality of messageswithin an IM session transcript; generating an association between thestored IM message fragment and the selected one of the plurality ofmessages; recalling, responsive to a user input, the stored IM messagefragment; and presenting the recalled IM message fragment within aninput field of the IM session, wherein the IM message fragment has notbeen transmitted from the user to an intended recipient of the IMmessage fragment, the IM session transcript includes messages from boththe user and the intended recipient, and the computer-usable storagedevice does not consist of a transitory, propagating signal.
 12. Thecomputer program product of claim 11, wherein the IM message fragment isstored within a list of IM message fragments.
 13. The computer programproduct of claim 12, wherein the list of IM message fragments ispresented to the user responsive to the user input.
 14. The computerprogram product of claim 12, wherein the recalled IM message fragment isselected, by the user, from the list of IM message fragments.
 15. Thecomputer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer-usableprogram code further causes the computer hardware system to performoutputting the IM message fragment, as a completed message, and theassociation.
 16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein anidentifier specifies the association, and the IM message fragment andthe identifier are sent to an IM server connecting the user to theintended recipient or an IM client of the intended recipient.
 17. Thecomputer program product of claim 15, wherein the completed message isdisplayed within an IM transcript window, of an IM client of the user,that displays the IM transcript.
 18. The computer program product ofclaim 11, wherein the IM message fragment is all data within the inputfield upon receiving the request.
 19. The computer program product ofclaim 11, wherein the computer-usable program code further causes thecomputer hardware system to perform visually displaying the associationbetween the IM message fragment and the selected one of the plurality ofmessages.
 20. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein thecomputer-usable program code further causes the computer hardware systemto perform visually distinguishing, upon the IM message fragment beingdragged over the selected one of the plurality of messages, the selectedone of the plurality of messages from other messages in an IM transcriptwindow, of an IM client of the user, that displays the IM transcript.